Safety razor



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 24, 1939. A. s. CARLSON SAFETY RAZOR Filed Jan. 13, 1938 I F I Patented Oct. 24, 1939 SAFETY RAZOR Axel S. Carlson, New York,

one-half to J. Curtis Blue,

N. Y., assignor of Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 13, 1938, Serial No. 184,720

Claims.

This invention relates to safety razors, and more particularly to a razor of that type in which the means for releasably clamping or holding the shaving blade constitutes a permanently assem- 5 bled part of the razor unit.

. It is the primary object and purpose of my present invention to provide a blade clamping means of this character together with means for securely locking the movable clamping element in in uniform pressure contact upon the blade to retain the shaving edges thereof in accurate relation to the guard teeth, and which may be easily and quickly actuated by a single manually operable means mounted on the razor handle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a guard member mounted for axial movement upon one end of the razor handle and a blade clamping member supported on said handle for pivotal swinging movement together with a movable locking element coacting with means on said clamping member, and means automatically operable in the movement of the said guard member in one direction to first move said clamping member relative to the guard member to permit of the removal of the shaving blade.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a blade clamping member pivotally supported at one of its ends upon the razor handle for lateral swinging movement relative to the guard, and independently operating locking devices coacting respectively with spaced parts of said clamping member to produce a uniform clamping pressure of said member upon the shaving blade.

It is also a further general object of the invention to provide a safety razor having the novel features above referred to and in which the several cooperating elements are simple in form, compact in their arrangement, and positive, re-

liable and efficient in functional operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved safety razor, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a safety razor provided with my new improvements, the handle being shown partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the relative position of the parts after the blade clamping and holding means has been actuated and the shav- 5 ing blade has been removed,

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the looking element for engagement with one end of the blade clamping member,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, 10

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-4;; of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on 1 the line 8-8 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 9 is asimilar sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2, and,

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View of the several parts of the central locking means for the blade 20 clamping member in separated relation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates a tubular razor handle, which may be of any desired external ornamental configuration. In the lower end of this handle, an internally threaded 25 sleeve 6 is suitably mounted for free rotation and is formed with a diametrically enlarged section projecting from the end of the handle, which may be suitably knurled for convenient manual operation of said sleeve.

The lower threaded section 9 of a rod 8 is engaged in the sleeve 6. The threads are of the quick acting type so that a partial rotation of the sleeve 6 will impart a comparatively long axial movement to the rod 8.

The upper end of the handle 5 is of internally reduced diameter, as indicated at Hi, to provide a guide bearing for the upper tubular end portion ii of the rod 8 which projects above the handle 5 and is suitably fixed as indicated at E2, to the 40 center of a horizontally positioned guard member it. This guard member includes a body portion M of transverse'arcuately curved form presenting a convex upper surface and is suitably provided in spaced relation from each or" its ends with a blade positioning stud l5. The body portion I B of the guard member is further provided on each of its longitudinal edges, at its center and the opposite ends thereof, with the downwardly projecting lugs it and I7 respectively. Each of these lugs has an angular outwardly extending lower end portion l8 and [9 respectively, and said outwardly extending portions of the lugs at each side of the guard member are integrally connected by 55 the bars 26 having upwardly and inwardly inclined spaced guard teeth 2 l.

To the upper end of the tubular handle 5 a horizontal flexible bar 22 is suitably fixed at its center as at 23, said bar being of slightly less length than the guard member l3 and terminating in bearing sleeves 2d and 25 respectively. A blade clamping plate 26 is provided at one of its ends with an arm ill extending at right angles to said plate and having an inwardly flanged end portion 28 provided with spaced hinged knuckles 29 positioned at opposite sides of the sleeve 24% and receiving the hinge pintle 30 which is rotatably mounted in said sleeve.

The clamping plate 26, at its other end is formed with a narrow longitudinally projecting lip 35 having a beveled or inclined upper surface 32. A locking plate 33 is provided at one of its ends with an angular flange 34 formed with the spaced hinge knuckles 35 positioned at opposite sides of the sleeve 25 and receiving the hinge pintle 3S rotatably mounted in said sleeve. The other end of the member 33 is provided with the opening 31 to receive the lip 3! of the plate 26 and a projecting end of the razor blade indicated at B.

The knuckles 29 and 35 have fiat side faces to abut the guard member 53 and limit movement of the plates 26 and 33 to the positions shown in Fig. 3.

The plate 26 generally conforms in transverse curvature to the body portion M of the guard member and is provided in its concave surface with the recesses 38 to accommodate the blade positioning studs iii. An opening 39 is also provided at the juncture of arm 2? with the plate 25 to accommodate the other end portion of the blade B. It will of course be understood that this blade is provided with the usual suitably shaped openings to receive the studs IE to position said blade and hold the same against longitudinal or transverse shifting movement relative to the guard member. These studs and openings may be of any selected size and form so as to permit of the use of razor blades of standard makes.

Any suitable means may be provided for establishing a fixed connection between the hinge knuckles of the arm 2'! and member 33 and the pintles 3t and 36 respectively. In the present instance each of these knuckles at its outer side edge and at one side of the axis of the hinge pintles is provided with a notch or recess M] as most clearly seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. These recesses receive angularly oifset portions M of the hinge pintles which function as locking keys to prevent turning or rotative movement of the hinge knuckles on said pintles. From reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings, it will be noted that these key portions ll extend vertically upward and terminate in the longitudinal crank projections 42 disposed out of axial alignment with the intermediateportion of the hinge pintle. The purpose of this construction, will be presently explained.

Within the tubular upper end H of the rod 8 a rod l3 is positioned and is secured at its lower end in fixed relation to the handle 5 by the pin 44 extending diametrically through said handle and rod. The tubular wall H of the rod 8 is formed with the slots 55 to accommodate this pin which thus prevents rotation of the rod 8 and the rod 53 either relative to each other, or as a unit with respect to the handle 5.

The upper end of therod 43 is bifurcated or slotted as at $6 to receive an inverted U-shaped bearing member 'll which is'urged upwardly in said slot by the spring 48 positioned between the arms of said member. Above the member 47 is a locking element 5.9, fulcrumed upon the transverse pivot pin 51? fixed in the upper end of the rod 53. This element d9 includes a body portion having a lower face 5i obliquely inclined longitudinally of the guard member l3. This body portion of said element is formed with an upwardly projecting tongue 52 having a head of substantially dove-tail shape in vertical section to provide downwardly converging opposite side faces 53. This tongue of the locking element is adapted to project upwardly into an opening centrally formed in clamping plate 25, said opening comprising a section 55 of substantially the same dimensions as the tongue 52 and having opposite converging side faces with which the faces 53 of said tongue have close sliding contact. The other section 5 of said opening in the clamping plate is relatively wide andis adapted to receive said tongue of the locking element when said element is rocked upon the pivot pin 5%) to one position, as will be hereinafter explained.

One side face of the element 49 is vertically inclined as at 39 for the greater portion of its length, the upper end portion M of said face being parallel to the tongue At the opposite side of the tongue a cam lug 55' is formed.

Upon the opposite ends of the guard member l3 means are provided to coact with the crank extensions 4'2 of the respective pintles 39 and 36 to move the clamping plate 25 and locking element 33 to and from the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. As herein shown this means for operating the plate 26 comprises a cam slot formed in each of the lugs ll at one end of the guard member. Each of these slots has a straight vertical lower end portion 55 and a laterally curved upper end portion 56, the latter extending through an arc of substantially These cam slots receive the crank extensions 42 at the opposite ends or the pintle. 3B.

The operating means for the locking element 33 also comprises cam'slots formed in the other pair of lugs ll. In this instance however the lower vertical portion 5'! of each slot is quite short in comparison with the straight vertical portions 55 of the cam slots which receive the ends of the pintle 353. At the upper end of the short vertical section 51 of the slot, the walls thereof are sharply offset laterally as indicated at 58. and

said slot then continued upwardly in a laterally extending are as shown at 59. These cam slots receive the crank extensions e2 at the opposite ings, the shaving blade is first positioned upon the convex upper surface of the guard member 13, the studs l5 being received in the end openings of said blade while the upper end of the rod 43 and the member t9 extend through the central opening and above the blade. The sleeve 6 is now rotated in one direction to move the guard member i3'upwardly with respect to the .7

handle and the bar 22 at the upper end thereof.

,lnthe first portion of the upward movement of the guard member, the cam sections 56 of the slots in the lugs ii at one end thereof coact with the crank ends of the pintle 3t and swing the clamping plate 26 inwardly and downwardly to a horizontal position and in spaced relation above the guard member and the blade B thereon, the tongue 53 of member 49 being received in the part 54 of the central opening in the plate 25. Simultaneously, in this initial portion of the movement of the guard member, the curved sections 59 of the cam slots in the other lugs i? coact with the crank ends of the pintle 36 and swing the locking element 33 upwardly to an obliquely inclined position. In the final portion of the upward movement of the guard member I3, the plate 23 remains relatively stationary and as the blade B is brought into contact with the lower concave surface of the plate 26 the crank ends of pintle 36 are engaged by the angularly offset sections 58 of the cam slots in the lugs i7 so that the locking element 33 is swung upwardly to a vertical position. Simultaneously the tubular part H of rod 8 in its movement relative to the rod 43 engages the lug on member 49 and rocks the same on its pivot 53 so that the dove-tail locking tongue 53 is laterally moved into the correspondingly shaped portion 54 of the central opening in the plate 26. lhe ends of bar 22 are resiliently yieldable and placed under stress as the parts 26 and 33 assume the position shown in Fig. 2.

As the element 33 moves to the vertical position shown in Fig. 2, the lip 3! is received in the opening 3"? and said plate or element at the upper edge of this opening has a camming action upon the beveled or inclined surface 32 of said lip.

'In this manner, it will be seen that the blade clamping plate 26 is securely locked and held at spaced points against any possibility of relative movement with respect to the guard member or shaving blade and a substantially uniform pressure upon said blade throughout the area of the clamping plate and guard member is obtained. Therefore when the blade is flexed as the plate 26 is moved to its final clamping position, the cutting edges C of said blade will be properly positioned and maintained in accurate relation to the guard teeth 2!.

In opening the razor to remove the blade the sleeve 6 is rotated in the opposite direction, whereby the rod 8 and guard member 53 are moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2. The blade B of course, moves with said guard member, the ends of the blade moving downwardly in the openings Bl and 33 respectively of the locking element 33 and arm 27?, while the crank ends 62 of the pintle 38 are positioned in the straight vertical portions 55 of the cam slots. In this first portion of the downward movement of the guard member, the rod :33 and member til remain in stationary position between the handle 5 and plate 26. The offset section 58 of the cam slots in one pair of lugs ll first engage the crank ends 42 of the pintle 36 to swing the looking element 33 laterally out of contact with the lip 3! of the clamping plate 25. The guard member 53 then moves below the surface 49 of member 39 and, under the action of spring 48, said member at is rocked to the position seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thereby disengaging the dove-tail tongue 53 from the side walls of the section 54 of the opening in the clamping plate. In the final portion of the downward movement of the guard member it, the cam sections 55 of the slots in the other pair of lugs l1 engage the crank ends of the pintle 36 and thus swing the clamping plate 26 laterally and upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, while at the same time the cam portions 59 of the slots engage the crank ends of the pintle 36 and continue the movement of the locking plate 33 to a substantially horizontal position. The shaving blade may now be easily lifted and removed from the guard member and a new blade substituted therefor.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction of my improved safety razor and the manner in which it is operated will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that I have provided a razor of this type in which the blade clamping element or plate constitutes a permanently assembled part of the razor unit together with means whereby the flexible razor blade may be securely clamped and held with its cutting edges in proper shaving relation to guard teeth and which may be operated with maximum ease and facility. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form of the guard member with blade positioning studs I5 thereon. However, it is to be understood that insofar as the essential and novel features of the present disclosure are concerned the same may be adaptable to safety razors of other constructions utilizing either the double or single edged shaving blade, although possibly necessitating resort to minor modifications in the form and relative arrangement of the various cooperating elements. Accordingly, it is to be understood that I reserve the privilege of incorporating my invention in such other alternative structural forms as may fairly be comprehended within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a safety razor, a handle, relatively movable members mounted on said handle for supporting a blade in shaving position, means mounted on the handle for moving one of said members axially of the handle with respect to the other member, coacting parts connected with said members, operative in such axial movement of said member to move one of said members in an angular path relative to the handle axis, into or out of position for clamping engagement with the shaving blade, and additional means actuated by said axially movable member, and moved thereby to and from cooperative relation with one of said members to releasably maintain an effective clamping pressure upon a blade positioned between said members.

2. In a safety razor, a handle, a blade supporting member movable axially of the handle and having guard teeth, a clamping plate adapted to be disposed in superposed relation to said member, means on the handle for axially moving said member to removably clamp a shaving blade between said member and plate, and position the cutting edge of the blade with relation to said guard teeth, and a plurality of locking devices coacting with said plate at spaced points to releasably retain said plate in fixed relation to said movable member.

3. In a safety razor, a handle, a blade supporting member movable axially of the handle and having guard teeth, a clamping plate pivotally mounted on the handle for swinging movement into and out of superposed relation to said member to removably clamp a shaving blade between said member and plate, means on the handle for axially moving said member into and out of blade clamping position, coacting means connected with said member and plate for swinging said plate to blade clamping position in the axial movement of said member in one direction, and a plurality of locking devices coacting with said plate at spaced points to releasably retain said plate in fixed relation to said axially movable member.

4. In a safety razor, a handle, a blade supporting member movable axially of the handle and having guard teeth, a clamping plate mounted at one end of the handle for lateral swinging movement into and out of superposed relation to said member to removab-ly clamp a shaving blade between said member and plate, means on the handle for axially moving said member into and out of blade clamping position, coacting means connected with one end of said member and plate for swinging said plate to blade clamping position in the axial movement of said member in one direction, and means mounted on the handle and coacting with means on the other end of said plate to releasably retain said plate in fixed relation to said axially movable member.

5. In a safety razor, a handle, a blade supporting member movable axially of the handle and having guard teeth, a clamping plate mounted at one of its ends on the handle for lateral swinging movement into and out of superposed relation to said member to removably clamp a shaving blade between said member and plate, means on the handle for axially moving said member into and out of blade clamping position, coacting means connected with one end of said member and plate for swinging said blade to clamping position in the axial movement of said member in one direction, a movable locking element mounted on the handle, adapted to coact with means on the other end of said plate to releasably retain the latter in fixed relation to said axially movable member, and additional means carried by said member, coacting with a part connected to the locking element, to actuate the latter in the movement of said member.

6. In a safety razor, a handle, a blade support movable axially of the handle, a blade clamping member, means for mounting said member upon the handle including a pivot rod having a fixed connection with said member, and cam means carried by said support coasting with means on one end of the pivot rod, in the axial movements of the support, to swing said clamping member into and out of blade clamping position.

'7. In a safety razor, a handle, a blade supporting member movable axially of the handle, means for removably clamping a blade in shaving position upon said support, comprising a clamping 'member pivotally mounted on the handle, means 8. In a safety razor, a handle, a blade support movable axially of the handle, a blade clamping member pivotally mounted at one of its ends upon the handle for lateral swinging movement, a locking element adapted to coact with means on the other end of said member and pivotally mounted upon the handle for lateral swinging movement, means for axially moving said support, and means operatively controlled by said support in its axial movement in one direction to swing said clamping member and locking element in timed relation and releasably lock said member in superposed clamping engagement with a shaving blade positioned upon said support, a

9. In a safety razor, a handle, blade clamping members, one movable relative to the other, for removably supporting a blade in shaving position, a locking device having a fixed connection with the handle and including a locking element adapted to coact with means on said movable member and releasably lock the same in blade engaging position, means yieldingly urging said element to its unlocking position, and means mounted on the handle controlling the operation of said movable clamping member and including a part to engage and move said element to its locking position in the movement of said member to blade clamping position.

10. In a safety razor, a handle, blade clamping members, each movable relative to the other, for removably supporting a blade in shaving position, a locking device having a fixed connection with the handle and including movable locking element adapted to coact with means on one of said members and releasably lock the same in blade engaging position with respect to the other member, coacting parts connected with the respective members for transmitting movement from the latter member to said first named member, and means mounted on the handle for operating said latter member and controlling the movement of Said locking element into locking engagement with said first named clamping member.

AXEL S. CARLSON. 

